12After the Lord has used the king of Assyria to accomplish his purposes on Mount Zion and in Jerusalem, he will turn against the king of Assyria and punish him—for he is proud and arrogant.
13He boasts,

has already decided to destroy the entire land.*10:22-23 Greek version reads only a remnant of them will be saved. / For he will carry out his sentence quickly and with finality and righteousness; / for God will carry out his sentence upon all the world with finality. Compare Rom 9:27-28.

24So this is what the Lord, the Lord of Heaven’s Armies, says: “O my people in Zion, do not be afraid of the Assyrians when they oppress you with rod and club as the Egyptians did long ago.
25In a little while my anger against you will end, and then my anger will rise up to destroy them.”
26The Lord of Heaven’s Armies will lash them with his whip, as he did when Gideon triumphed over the Midianites at the rock of Oreb, or when the Lord’s staff was raised to drown the Egyptian army in the sea.

27In that day the Lord will end the bondage of his people.

He will break the yoke of slavery

and lift it from their shoulders.*10:27 As in Greek version; Hebrew reads The yoke will be broken, / for you have grown so fat.

28Look, the Assyrians are now at Aiath.

They are passing through Migron

and are storing their equipment at Micmash.

29They are crossing the pass

and are camping at Geba.

Fear strikes the town of Ramah.

All the people of Gibeah, the hometown of Saul,

are running for their lives.

30Scream in terror,

you people of Gallim!

Shout out a warning to Laishah.

Oh, poor Anathoth!

31There go the people of Madmenah, all fleeing.

The citizens of Gebim are trying to hide.

32The enemy stops at Nob for the rest of that day.

He shakes his fist at beautiful Mount Zion, the mountain of Jerusalem.

33But look! The Lord, the Lord of Heaven’s Armies,

will chop down the mighty tree of Assyria with great power!

He will cut down the proud.

That lofty tree will be brought down.

34He will cut down the forest trees with an ax.

Lebanon will fall to the Mighty One.*10:34 Or with an ax / as even the mighty trees of Lebanon fall.